January Book Review: A Fever in the Heartland
A gripping true-crime book with major cultural impact
As I mentioned earlier this month, I’ve started a book club here on Land of the Free. We’re going to read twelve books about American history this year—a selection of biographies, popular culture, profiles, and more.
I hope you’ll join me in this endeavor.
We started with A Fever in the Heartland, a gripping work that examines the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in the Midwest during the 1920s. This era represents a time when the KKK reached the pinnacle of its power, influence, and impact in American life. Participation in Klan events was widespread, and many members openly boasted of their membership in this group, which they reframed as a (not-so) benign organization focused on the betterment of society.
It’s a shocking and distasteful history, and one many people are unwilling to admit is a part of our collective recent past. The truth often hides in shadows, attics, and in scrapbooks.
But it’s there.
What I liked:
Timothy Egan is a masterful writer. He crafts an engaging narrative that presents a character study on the leadership of the KKK and the backdrop of the 1920s. In the middle of this book, the storyline shifts into an explosive murder case that attracts national attention and ultimately undoes the Klan’s influence on millions of members and supporters.
That’s right—by the mid 1920s, the Klan boasted ranks that would put many organizations to shame.
Egan slowly unravels this history, drawing in the reader with each chapter. He paints a clear-eyed view of the tumult of post-WWI America and shows how this insidious group capitalized on fears and anxiety.
Egan relates that much of what happened in the 1920s could easily happen again. The book is a warning about fear, change, and cultural shifts.
Verdict:
Five out of five stars. This is an excellent read that will broaden anyone’s view of American history.
Plus…
February is almost here, and our next book is on deck! Are you ready to keep reading? I hope so!
Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune is the story of one of America’s most famous Gilded Age families. It was written by Anderson Cooper and came out in 2023 to rave reviews. The Astor family influenced business, fashion, art, and culture for several decades before fading from prestige in the mid-20th century. Cooper’s own status as a member of the rival Vanderbilt family makes this an interesting choice for the next read.